From 5 to 9 October 2026, the STRIPES project held a consortium-wide project visit in Istanbul, Turkey, bringing together partners from VU Amsterdam, CIS College, INMAA, IRADA and IRI UL. The visit took place at the start of the project’s final implementation phase and gave partners the opportunity to meet in person, review where the project stands and plan the work ahead. Its main objectives were to discuss progress and agree on priorities for the remaining implementation period, strengthen the leadership and operational capacity of STRIPES Center staff through training and peer exchange. Review project and financial management, monitoring and evaluation and the evidence needed for the remaining deliverables, agree on clear responsibilities and deadlines for the final activities and outputs, and strengthen the collaboration and joint problem-solving across the consortium in a challenging operating environment.

The week opened with two days of leadership development for STRIPES Centre staff, led by Dr. Janina Klein from the VU School of Business and Economics. Partners looked again at the missions, goals and values of the STRIPES Centres and discussed whether they are still relevant. They also explored different types of organizational change, from changes that can be controlled to those that cannot, and from surface level to deeper change, as well as the leadership skills each of them requires. The training combined group work on current challenges with practical tools for managing change and ended with individual coaching sessions for Centre leaders.

On the third day, the full consortium came together for a day of reflection and exchange. Dr. Valérie Duplat from the VU School of Business and Economics led a session on AI for Career Services, combining recent research with a practical case to explore where AI could support Career Services professionals in STRIPES. Dr. Gregor Cerinšek from IRI UL led a joint reflection on implementing projects in times of crisis, where partners shared how they have adapted and kept their work going under difficult conditions. Ahmad Dahrouj, Khoubourat HR Program Manager at IRADA, introduced the use of automation in recruitment and career guidance and what it could mean for Career Services. Esther den Hartog, also from the VU School of Business and Economics, led an exchange on the development of Career Services and Career Hubs, where partners discussed their needs, opportunities and next steps. The fourth day focused on project management, monitoring and evaluation. Partners reviewed the overall project status and the budget-neutral extension, and work package leaders presented progress and remaining activities across WP1–WP6. The day also covered financial planning and the evidence still needed for the final deliverables.

On the final day, each partner turned the outcomes of the week into an institutional action plan for the remaining project period. Partners presented their key actions, responsibilities and deadlines, and agreed on the next steps for the whole consortium. Outside the working sessions, partners met for two consortium dinners and got to enjoy some of Istanbul’s excellent food. The dinners were a welcome chance to relax and talk informally after long working days. The visit gave STRIPES Centre staff new tools for leading change in their institutions and left the consortium with a clear plan for the final months of the project.